Nice and Rough: A Night with Steffanie and Tina
Rock Goddess Will Pay Homage to Icon’s Legacy
Wednesday, November 23 at The Charles H. Wright Museum

DETROIT, MI: Rock artist, and Detroit native Steffanie Christi’anwill honor industry icon, Tina Turner during a tribute concert,Nice and Rough: A Night with Steffanie and Tina on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, 8:00 p.m. inside the General Motors Theatre at the historical Charles H. Wright Museum of African-AmericanHistory.Tickets are available at SteffChris.Eventbrite.com. Christi’an and her dynamic nine-piece band, will perform a variety of favorites from Turner’s vast catalog of music along with selection’s from Christi’an’s powerful debut album Way Too Much plus material from her upcoming release, It’s Complicated. Sponsored by Black Women Rock!, Distorted Soul and Bling UniverCity, the show promises to be an incomparable experience of pure rock, funk and soul.

Tina Turner is the Queen of Rock and Roll, and one of the world’s top-selling music artists of all time, and is the most successful female Rock ‘n’ Roll artist, receiving eleven Grammy Awards. Turner has also sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history. Her combined album and single sales total approximately 100 million copies worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling females in music history. She’s also an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one half of Ike and Tina Turner. Christian’s show celebrates Tina’s 77th birthday on November 26th.

Rare is the artist whose presence is so magnificent that it markets itself. Rock Goddess, Steffanie Christi’an enters stage left to capture and captivate your starved soul. She stalks any stage on which she steps, making audiences her docile prey. This gifted singer/songwriter mesmerizes with her infinite energy, fiery passion and hypnotic vocals. Christi’an has performed internationally and locally at numerous events including a recent tour of France with the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra, performances with jessica Care moore’s Black Women Rock! in Detroit, and at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, the Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama with Talib Kweli and Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music in New York City. Her new album, It’s Complicated is due out on BlingUniverCity, early 2017.

It’s no secret that she is one of Christi’an’s primary inspirations. Steffanie’s robust vocals often channel Tina’s aura. “A few years ago, I performed a medley of Tina Turner songs at a Black Women Rock! concert and it went over so well! Ever since that show, people have been telling me, they would love to see me sing more of Tina’s music on a larger scale and I thought this was the perfect time. When I was a little girl watching Tina Turner on MTV, it was life changing for me. Here was this black women strutting and singing Rock & Roll. Those moments had an indelible impact on me and who I am as an artist,” says Steffanie.

Summertime promises to bring plenty of good vibrations to downtown Novi

A new outdoor festival called Vibe on Main is coming to Novi on Aug. 13, and this first-time eventpromises to be a good time for everyone.

“It’s a great time of the year for a festival and Main Street is the perfect location,” said Robert Hansen, manager of the popular Rojo Mexican Bistro in downtown Novi. “I really think this is going to be a terrific event.”

Main Street will be closed to traffic from Paul Bunyon Drive south to Potomac Road and then west toward Novi Road for the festival, allowing for a stage at the Main/Potomac intersection, a beer tent/VIP area, food vendors, a mini bazaar, and the addition of outdoor dining patios that can be extended into the street.

Whitney McClellan-Stone and Cal Stone are the husband-and-wife team behind 2 Stones Events, the organizers of the festival. They were approached by the city a year and a half ago about doing a new event. And now they’ve lined up several impressive music acts and are eager to bring some positive vibes to downtown Novi.

“For years, my husband and I were on the board of the ’50s Festival, which ended several years ago after more than two decades,” McClellan-Stone said. “This event will focus on great Detroit area musicians and food that celebrates this city’s diversity. And people unfamiliar with downtown Novi will be surprised … we’re confident it won’t be long before it really explodes and starts drawing people from all over.”

The second artist, vocalist Ben Sharkey, has been steadily building a loyal local following, crooning in the style of Harry Connick Jr., putting a unique spin on modern tunes like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, and serving up impressive originals.

Closing out the festival will be the Motor City’s queen of the blues, Thornetta Davis, a powerful singer and performer who boasts one of the best bands in the state.

“We’re mixing up genres to appeal to a wide audience – zydeco, country, jazz, rock, Americana, and funk,” said Stone, “and we feel extremely grateful to have these awesome acts working with us. There should be something here for everyone to enjoy.”

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES

Novi City Council member Brian Burke said the festival is another step toward reinvigorating the downtown area.

“To be able to block off the street and have an evening of music and food, along with a beautiful sunset is just a great idea,” he said. “We’re supporting our local merchants with this festival, and that’s something everyone can get behind. But we’re also trying to get Main Street out of a stagnant period and become a vibrant center again, and I think this is a great start.”

Vibe Credit Union is the presenting sponsor for the festival. It’s the perfect partnership. “We love the name of the festival and we’re proud to be partners,” Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Ross said. “Our name represents the sound waves of our history in the telecommunications industry, and this year we’re celebrating our 80th birthday.”

Vibe Credit Union is involved in a number of community events, working in partnership with the Novi library, schools, city and chamber. Ross said the credit union philosophy centers around the idea of people helping people.

“This is really big for Novi and we’re happy to be a part of it,” she said. “People love music and great food.”

The Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair and Hubert Distributors (Bud Light) have come on board as sponsors, as have several car dealerships — Cadillac of Novi, Tom Holzer Ford, and Marty Feldman Chevrolet. In support of the new festivals, services and goods are being offered by the City of Novi, Independent Exhibit Services, Lagarda Security, Singh Development, Message Makers, Michigan CAT, Novi Public Library, and Waste Management.

A BOOST TO THE DOWNTOWN

Stone said he hopes the festival will serve as “a shot in the arm” for downtown Novi, one that will help lead to future events.

“It really is a unique area,” he said of the district. “I think it just needs something like a festival to give it more exposure. A lot of people don’t even know about downtown Novi, but once people visit, I’m sure they’ll want to return to check out something new.”

The stage is being strategically situated so that festival-goers on both the north-south and east-west portions of Main Street will be able to enjoy the show. The festival is free, but a $5 wristband is necessary to enter the beer and wine tent. Members of Novi Rotary will be serving, and proceeds will benefit that club’s foundation.

In a VIP area near the stage, patrons will enjoy a higher-end selection of beer and wine, and food (provided by Steve & Rocky’s restaurant).

The festival will run from 2-11 p.m., but Stone said it’s possible it will be expanded into a two-day event, with Friday, Aug. 12, serving as a fundraiser that’s centered around a craft beer tasting.

Burke said he envisions the festival as a catalyst that could lead to future projects, such as developing a pocket park in the area. Hansen said he appreciates how Burke and other city officials are working to bring some new energy into the downtown.

“I know they’re trying to revamp Main Street and they definitely have the support of the business community,” Hansen said. “They’re trying to bring it and this is a great step in the right direction.”

Just bring your dancing shoes and an appetite — and get ready for some good vibrations.

Businesses interested in partnering with 2 Stones Events in this new Novi event can call 810-599-0491. For more information on Vibe on Main, visit http://www.2stonesevents.com.

THE FUNK YOU SAY? An International Funk Experience, with Detroiter Nadir Omowale and Canada’s LMT Connection, Saturday, July 9 at Northern Lights Lounge

DETROIT, MI: Distorted Soul Detroit and Detroit IS Different present THE FUNK YOU SAY? An International Funk Experience, on Saturday, July 9 at Northern Lights Lounge, 660 West Baltimore Street in Detroit. Showtime is at 10:00pm with live music by Thirteen-time Detroit Music Award winner Nadir Omowale’s six-piece band featuring powerhouse vocalist Steffanie Christi’an and Canada’s LMT Connection, featuring former Parliament/Funkadelic and Sugar Hill Records horn section The Chops Horns, and led by Detroit native Leroy Emmanuel, formerly with Westbound Records group The Fabulous Counts. Tickets are $10, available in advance at DistortedSoul.com or at the door. [Read more…]